Related Articles
Pakistan fast bowler Hassan Ali has lashed out at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), accusing it of favoritism in handling player injuries. The veteran pacer questioned why young opener Saim Ayub received VVIP treatment during his injury while others, including himself, were left to struggle through rehabilitation without similar support.
Hassan’s comments came during an appearance on the Ultra Edge podcast, where he expressed frustration over the unequal treatment of Pakistani cricketers.
“Saim Ayub is injured. He is a player of the Pakistan team. Was I not a player of the Pakistan team in 2020? If any other Pakistani player gets injured, is he not part of the team? Does Saim play for India? They are giving VVIP treatment to him. If anybody else gets injured, will they do the same for him? May God give good health to Saim. But when he gets injured again, will he get the same treatment? They will not. We have to rectify this,” Hassan stated.
Table of content
Hassan’s Painful Recovery Journey
The 30-year-old pacer recalled his own struggles with injuries, including a back injury in 2019, followed by a stress fracture in the ribs and a slipped disc issue that kept him out of action for over 16 months.
“The most painful thing during my injury was that my physio was changed every month. Whenever I used to recover, my physios would be changed, and it would be back to where I was. I was initially told it was just a spasm, but later, it turned out to be a stress fracture in the ribs, which worsened my condition,” he said.
Despite his gruelling rehabilitation, Hassan fought his way back into the Pakistan team for the 2021 Test series against South Africa. However, inconsistent performances saw him miss out on Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad.
Lack of Stability in Pakistan Cricket
Beyond his injury concerns, Hassan also criticized the lack of stability in Pakistan cricket, particularly in terms of player and coach management.
“In my eight years of international cricket, I have seen many players being dropped without even getting a game. A team takes 3-4 years to build, and even after 8-9 years, players go through ups and downs. But there has to be a clear plan.”
He contrasted Pakistan’s instability with India’s structured approach, citing the example of Rahul Dravid, who stayed on as head coach despite India’s 2023 ODI World Cup final loss and only stepped down after leading India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
“In Pakistan, we remove coaches or players before a World Cup. Do we call this stability?” Hassan questioned.
A Bigger Issue for PCB?
Hassan Ali’s remarks raise serious concerns about PCB’s player welfare policies and long-term planning. His comments highlight a wider problem in Pakistan cricket—inconsistent selection, unstable management, and lack of proper injury rehabilitation.
With Champions Trophy 2025 underway, it remains to be seen whether PCB addresses these concerns or if Hassan Ali’s words will be another ignored outcry from a frustrated player.
